Dmitry Medevedev: The Kazan Universiade was really great
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev awarded Diplomas of the President of Russia to winners of the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013. The ceremony took place in the Russian Government headquarters. "I extend my congratulations to you on receiving the national awards, which, I believe, are first for most of those present here. The Diploma of the President of Russia is a national award, not some departmental but a national one, and it is always mentioned in the biographies," said Dmitry Medvedev and wished the athletes further success both in sports and life.
He stressed that the results achieved at the Universiade were excellent and reminded that Russia is set to host another Universiade - the Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk. "I hope that there will be the same atmosphere [as in Kazan]. The only 'bad' thing in Kazan was that we were fed like a prize turkey. But thank God the Sports Minister and I got off lucky, because I stayed only for one day there, but even that was enough to experience the full measure of Tatar hospitality, and all the rest was great," Medvedev said with a smile.
The Diplomas of the President of Russia were awarded to winners in the men's canoe sprint event, Alexander Nikolaev of Moscow State Academy of Municipal Economy and Construction and Alexey Bovdurets of Moscow State Academy of Physical Education.
In addition, the diplomas were presented to track and field athletes Anastasia Savchenko, Irina Tarasova, Ilgizar Safiullin, Alyona Tamkova and Daria Klishina. Artyom Lobuzov, who won gold medal in the men's swimming event at the Summer Universiade, also received a diploma from the Prime Minister. Plus, the national awards were bestowed upon sambo wrestlers Yana Kostenko, Alexander Kuchumov and Denis Davydov, as well as wrestlers Valeria Koblova and Ekaterina Bukina.
Also among the awardees: synchro swimmers Alexandra Zueva, Mikhaela Kalancha, Svetlana Kolesnichenko, Daria Korobova, Anisya Olkhova, Alexandra Paskevich, Elena Prokofieva, Svetlana Romashina, Vlada Chigireva, Alla Shishkina and Maria Shurochkina, artistic gymnasts Aliya Mustafina, Maria Paseka and Emin Garibov, weightlifters Olga Zubova, Tatiana Kashirina and Oksana Slivenko, rhythmic gymnasts Anastasia Bliznyuk, Olga Ilyina, Anastasia Nazarenko, Alexandra Merkulova and Margarita Mamun, the R-Sport agency reported.